Title: A knowledge transfer framework for virtual projects

Authors: Petra M. Bosch-Sijtsema

Addresses: University Groningen, NL-9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands

Abstract: Organisations increasingly work in virtual settings. However, few studies discuss knowledge transfer in virtual settings. In this paper, we discuss two questions: (a) To what parties is the knowledge transferred in virtual projects; we present a framework of knowledge transfer to different stakeholder parties. (b) Second, what kind of knowledge (content, organisational and social) is transferred to the stakeholders of a virtual project? Three case studies have been examined in order to answer these questions. It was found that the more virtual cases (complete dispersion of the workforce) transferred less tacit knowledge. Furthermore, the transfer of organisational and social knowledge became important in more virtual settings compared to a case study with physical proximity.

Keywords: virtual projects; knowledge transfer; stakeholder knowledge flows; knowledge types; virtual organisations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2004.005732

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2004 Vol.2 No.4, pp.298 - 311

Published online: 29 Nov 2004 *

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